For those of you not paying attention, there happens to be a major global rugby tournament kicking off in New Zealand in less than a couple of months.
A great opportunity, I thought, to take the uninitiated on a whirlwind trip through RWC history, having been fortunate (old) enough to have witnessed every Rugby World Cup tournament since its inception in 1987:
1987
Hosts: New Zealand, with matches also staged in Australia
Summary: Professionally prepared All Blacks stroll to inaugural World Cup success while the rest of the rugby world appears to treat it as an end of season jolly, particularly the English.
Winners: New Zealand
Runners up: France
Poster boy: Michael Jones/ John Kirwan.
And now, gazing into my crystal ball...1991
Hosts: England, with matches also staged in France, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Summary: England grind their way to the final only to be outsmarted by the canny Aussies. Wales beaten in the group stage by Western Samoa, prompting the comment that thank heavens they weren’t playing the whole of Samoa.
Winners: Australia
Runners up: England
Poster boy: David Campese1995
Hosts: South Africa
Summary: Apartheid-free South Africa take their World Cup bow. New Zealand dominate the tournament but are undone in the final by fierce Springbok defence and the alleged intervention of Suzie the waitress.
Winners: South Africa
Runners up: New Zealand
Poster boy: Jonah Lomu1999
Hosts: Wales with matches also staged in France, England, Ireland and Scotland
Summary: Dull tournament brought to life by two stunning semi finals at Twickenham, one of which saw the previously hopeless France come back from the dead to shatter All Black hopes only to fold weakly to Australia in the final.
Winners: Australia
Runners up: France
Poster boy: Tim Horan2003
Hosts: Australia
Summary: “Is that all you’ve got?” ask the Aussie press. The answer is a resounding “yes, but it’s enough” as Jonny Wilkinson drop kicks England to a last gasp victory in Sydney, a victory from which England are yet to recover.
Winners: England
Runners up: Australia
Poster boy: Jonny Wilkinson2007
Hosts: France with matches also staged in Wales and Scotland
Summary: Hosts France again stun the All Blacks, this time in a Cardiff ¼ Final. Distinctly mediocre England team somehow reach the final again before being overpowered by ruthless Springboks.
Winners: South Africa
Runners up: England
Poster boy: Sébastien Chabal
2011?
Hosts: New Zealand (a safe prediction)
Summary: All Blacks shake off the injury losses of the talismanic Dan Carter and Richie McCaw to reach the final but are undone by a breathtaking display of running rugby from the resurgent English.
Winners: England
Runners up: New Zealand
Poster boy: Mike Tindall (OK, OK it’s getting silly now).
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